Authors: L. M. Roth
Quest
For the Kingdom Part III Invitation To Eternity
“Judoc looked
at the fire for several moments, as if mesmerized by the dancing flames. When
at last she looked away, she glanced at the faces of all in turn before she
spoke.
Instead of
answering Marcus’ question, she posed one in turn.
“Do you recall
the day when Brenus ran off the path, and I called him back?” was her
unexpected query.
“Yes,” Marcus
promptly replied. “You seemed concerned beyond all reason, I thought.”
“I had good
reason,” Judoc quickly responded. “For you see, they live in the wild places
and we must not stray from the path.”
“They?” Felix
echoed, as he glanced aside at Marcus.
Marcus hoped
Felix would not mock Judoc, who was deadly earnest.
“They,” she
answered without hesitation. “The Tuadan.”
“And who are
the Tuadan?” Marcus coaxed her to further disclosure.
“They are the
rulers of the wild places,” Judoc continued, her eyes once again riveted on the
fire. “They once ruled from the heavens but they did what was forbidden and
were diminished and fell to earth. There, they were banished to the hills and
valleys, the trees and the fields.
“Some say they
walk in the places where no man has set his foot, and they guard their domain
with fierce and jealous anger, punishing the unwary. And it is they who bless
the crops or curse them at their pleasure. It is not wise to stray from the
paths, for there are those who have done so; and never returned.”
“Your
task, Marcus, is to travel far and wide and bring back to me four objects that
I desire most ardently: I want the Fountain of Youth, a star from the Heavens,
the Rays of the Sun, and the secret of life. That is your task. There is one
more thing I require of you, Marcus: do not fail me a second time.”
Four
unobtainable objects to be found and brought back to the Empress Aurora is the
impossible quest assigned to Marcus Maximus. Failure would bring his own death
and the continued imprisonment of his beloved parents.
Marcus
is also torn between finishing the quest to release his parents or coming to
the aid of his beloved Tullia, now in mortal danger from which only he can
rescue her. And for both Tullia and his parents, time is running out.
Accompanied
by his faithful friends and guided by the River Zoe, they must overcome deadly
perils with the aid of the fabulous Sword Logos, which must never be used in
violence.
Along
the way they will encounter dark enchantments and ethereal delights, and
discover that in every life, there is one love that lasts forever.
Part
III Invitation To Eternity
Table
of Contents
The
People of the Forgotten Tongue
Confrontation
On the Mountaintop
A
Warm Welcome and A Hostile Encounter
It
Was She and She Alone I Sought